NBF writes to BARC again on TV9 numbers, calls BARC’s response disappointing

The News Broadcasters Federation (NBF) has written to BARC India once again to reiterate its concerns over the “extremely serious issues” pertaining to the TV9 Group and TV9 Bharatvarsh. NBF had written to BARC on the same issue on July 6, 2020, but said that the response received was “disappointing”.

In its letter dated July 11, 2020, which Adgully has a copy of, NBF once again highlighted that there is evidence to indicate manipulation and tampering of BARC meters by the TV9 Group and added that, “It is incomprehensible how on public platforms BARC has gone on to make an assertion that the videos showing manipulation of BARC data are “fake”.”

NBF’s letter also refers to 6 videos that it says “show how homes with BAR-O-meters were identified in a categorical manner, and payments were allegedly made by TV9 to ensure the channel is turned-on for a fixed minimum period on a daily basis”. The Federation alleged that these videos indicated the existence of a well-oiled system to “artificially increase Average Time Spent data”.

The broadcasters’ body also pointed out that in 2016, BARC had suspended the ratings of TV9’s Telugu news channel, V6 News, and India News on similar charges, and added that BARC’s inaction in the case of TV9 Group and TV9 Bharatvarsh raised massive questions of bias.

It also called for an investigation into the complicity of TV9 Bharatvarsh’s higher management.